Academy turns average Joe into warrior

Carrie Thornton

Published
6:06 pm CDT, Friday, August 31, 2012

SPRING - The owners of Modern American Warrior Academy want to teach residents how to watch their back.

Marcus Buonfiglio and Chester Peterson welcome men, women and children to participate in their variety of classes that range from anti-bullying for youth to an International Travelers Program for adults. The academy is located at 314 Sawdust Road.

“We promote awareness of your surroundings,” Buonfiglio said.

His interest in instructing others originated from an unlikely source, his son’s swim meets - or, “pedophile paradise,” he said. His son began competing at age 9 in meets, some of which attracted enormous crowds, and Buonfiglio knew it was the perfect place for a child predator to lurk. So, he started watching.

Eventually, he caught three predators at his son’s meets simply by observing behavior and identifying who did not belong, and he applies this concept to residents and frequent travelers to help them steer clear of unsafe situations that may appear safe on the surface.

“What we’ve done is taken a lot of experts’ input and research and created a teaching format,” he said, “and it just depends on what you’re looking for.”

Each program is about eight weeks long, or can be tailored to an individual’s schedule or need. There’s a Children’s Safety and Awareness Program for $350 per person, Woman’s Safety and Awareness Program for $650 per person, Men’s Safety and Awareness Program for $650 per person, Workplace Violence Program for $185 per person with a 10-person minimum, and a Sociopathic Awareness Program for various prices depending on the number of desired seminars.

The academy also offers weekly self-defense classes, American Kenpo and a Texas Concealed Handgun Class, plus a Handgun Shooting Class.

To help participants pack the hardest punch, Buonfiglio said, they give them something more realistic than bags to practice with: Peterson and himself.

“It’s not common because you usually hit bags, or get to spar by teaming up with someone; they teach you something you can actually use,” said Shali Palmer, a current Kenpo participant. “I leave feeling like I can do so much.”

Palmer has previously practiced karate, and joined the academy for Buonfiglio’s and Peterson’s practical and nontraditional approach, she said. The small class size of three to four students compared to a room full of people makes it a more personable experience, Palmer said.

For more information about Modern American Warrior Training Academy, visit modernamericanwarrior.com, call 281-419-0049 or email Marcus Buonfiglio at marcus@modernamericanwarrior.com.